Pole base



March 5, 1957 c. G. SWANSON POLE BASE Filed April 24, 1953 Carl 6 Swanson INVENTOR.

United States Patent POLE BASE Carl G. Swanson, Payette, Idaho Application April 24, 1953, Serial No. 350,967 1 Claim. (Cl. 287-119) This invention relates in general to an improved base for poles and more specifically to an improved base having means for selectively retaining therein poles of different sizes in position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved pole base which includes an upper tubular portion adapted to receive a pole and having wedge means therein for retaining the lower end of a pole rigidly within the tubular portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im proved pole base which includes an upper tubular portion having adjustable wedge means therein for centering the lower end of an associated pole, the wedges being so arranged whereby poles of dilferent diameters may be accommodated.

, Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pole base which is of a relatively simple and compact construction to which lower endof a pole may be quickly and easily rigidly secured.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved pole base which includes an upward tubular portion, the upper tubular portion having wedge means therein for adjustably receiving lower ends of poles of varying diameters, the upper tubular portion having a removable section to facilitate positioning and removal of the wedges.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken through the pole base which is the subject of this invention and shows the manner in which the lower end of a pole is removably secured therein;

I Figure 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the position of upper wedge means for retaining the pole within the pole base;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 1 and shows the relationship of spring means for urging fasteners for the wedges to outwardly directed positions;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the spring means of Figure 3 and shows the general outline of the same;

Figure 5 is an elevational view on a reduced scale of the modified form of pole base having an upper renewable section pivotally carried thereby, the pivoted position of the section being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by section line 6-6 of Figure 5 and shows the general appearance of the upper end of the pole base; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the wedges utilized for retaining a pole within the pole base.

Referring now to the drawings in particular, it will be 2,784,015 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 seen that there is illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, inclusive, a preferred form of pole base which is the subject of this invention, the pole base being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The pole base 10 includes a lower tubular portion 12 which is adapted to bev inserted in the ground and whose lower end is closed by a bottom wall 14. The base 10 also includes an upper 16 which is separated from the lower,

tubular portion tubular portion 12 by a transversely extending web 18. It will be noted that the bottom of the web 18 is arched as at 20 to facilitate the support of a pole 22 carried by the upper tubular portion 16.

The upper tubular portion 16 has a generally conical bottom wall 24 which is formed by the web 18. Disposed at opposite sides of the bottom wall 24 are downwardly and outwardly directed passages 26 which open through to the exterior of the base 10. Inasmuch as the upper end of the upper tubular portion 16 is open to the elements, it will be seen that a certain amount of water willof the tubular portion 16 are provided with oppositely tapered annular camming recesses 28 and 30, respectively. Disposed in the upper part of the upper tubular portion 16 and seating within the recess 28 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedges 32. Alignedwith the upper wedges 32 and disposed within the lower annular recess 30 are similar wedges 34. It will thus be seen that the Wedges 32 and 34 are arranged in vertically aligned pairs and in upper and lower annular series.

Connecting together an upper wedge 32 and a lower wedge 34 of each pair of wedges is an elongated bolt 36. The bolt 36 passes through a bore 38 in the upper wedge 32 and the lower ends thereof are adjustably threadedly engaged in bores in the lower wedges 34.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it will be seen that the upper wedges 32 each has an inner arcuate face 40 for engagement with the pole 22. Each wedge 32 also has an outer arcuate face 42 for engagement with the inner wall of the upper tubular portion 16.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that when the lower end of the pole 22 is disposed within the confines of the upper tubular portion 16, the same may be easily retained within the pole base 10 through the use of the wedges 32 and 34. When it is desired to properly seat the wedges 32 and 34, the bolts 36 are turned to draw the Wedges 32 and 34 towards each other into firm wedging engagement with the lower end of the pole 22.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated an expansion spring member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 44. The spring member 44 includes a spring loop 46 having overlapping ends. Carried by the spring loop 46 in circumferentially spaced relation are a plurality of outwardly extending ears 48 having bores 50 therethrough.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that carried by the bolts 36 in vertically spaced relation is a pair of such spring members 44, the bolts 36 passing through the bores 50. It will be understood that the spring loop 46 of each spring member 44 is of such a nature whereby it urges the individual bolts 36 laterally outwardly, radially of the upper tubular portion 16 so that when the bolts 36 are loosened with respect to the wedges 32 and before the pairs of wedges 32, 34 are drawn together both the upper and lower wedges 32, 34 will be spread apart laterally in response to the action of the spring member 44 sufiiciently for a pole 22 to clear said wedges during insertion of the pole in the tubular portion 16.

'Referrlngnow't'o Figures and6', in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a slightly modified form of pole base which is referredto in general by the refei'enc'e numeral 601 The" pole'base' 60 includes a lower the construction of the pole base 601s identical with the 1 construction of the pole b'asefll'tlwith' the exception of tlre jupp'er'tnbular ortion 64 beingprovidedwith a half 7tf'which'isf separate from there'matnder of the pole base 603 The half 70'h'as a reduced lower end portion 72' which is, seated ina; complementary socket 74; It will be understoodthatthe reduced lowe'r'e'nd72' of the'half 70' issf'o related with respect to the socket 74 that it may be pivotedtherein to'facilitatethe removal thereoffrom the socket74':

In order that the half 70 may be rigidly secured to the corresponding half 76 of the upper tubular portion 64'; theextreme upper parts of the halves 70 and'76 are provided with opposed cars 78. The ears 78 are respectively'connected together. by removablefasteners 80L Itiwilfbe understood'that when the upper end of the half 70 'is connected to the upper end of the half 76 through. thcuse ofthefasteners' 80, the relationship between thereduced 'l'ow'er end 72 and the socket 74 is such that thethalf 70"r'unction's as an integral portion of the pole base- 60'. Accordingly,' when" the half 70 is connected tio'the half 76, the function of the pole base 60 will be identical with that outlined with respect to the pol'e'b'as'e Whe'nit is'd'esire'd to connect the'pole base 60' to a suspended, pole, suchi as'the' pole 66, the half 70 is removedandthe pole base'60 slid into position. The half 70Iisthen replaced and moved to its normal position where itis retained in cooperating relation with the half 76 by'thefasteners 80; After the half 70 has been properly positioned, the wedges carried by theupper tubular p'o'rti'o'nod are setby 'bolts 82 passingftherethrough."

Whilethe, primary purpo'seofthe removablehalf 70 is to facilitate, the engagement of the pole base 60with a suspended'pole; such. as the pole 66, it will be understood that'the' removability of the, half'70 facilitates the p'osi ti'o'nin'g'ahdrem'oval, of the wedges and their associated bolts;

Referring now to Figure 3" in particular, it will beseen that theupper tubular portion 16 of the pole base" 10 liasi'forrn'edin the inner wall thereof a plurality of circumferentiall'y spaced, longitudinally extending recesses 84. There'cesses 84iopen at their opposite ends intothe recesses 28'and 30. It will be understood that the re- 4 rctainthe spring membersedinposition'within the'upper tubular portion 16.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the a'r't, it-is not desired to limit the cesses'84are of such sizes so as to receive the outwardly 6Q projecting'lugs 48of'the spring members 44 and guidingly invention to the exact construction shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within" the scope of the appended claim. I

Whatis' claimed as new is:

A rod joint comprising. a first member having a tubular portion at one end thereof, a second cylindrical member inserted in the tubular portion, opposite ends of said tubular portion being provided with annular camming recesses tapered oppositely relatively,- circular series of wedges in the ends-ofsaid tubhlar'pbrtion' disposed in said recesses in surrounding relation" to said cylindrical member and adapted to be drawn together in pair'sfo'r camming by said recesses from spreadapart' rela'tio'n'liri" the series into engagement with said cylindrical member,

said wedges whenspread'apartinthe series providingtor insertion of the cylindrical member into said tubular,

portion clear'of said wedges, elongated straight members cxtendinglongitudinally in said tubular portion in circular arrangement" around said cylindrical member and oper'at'ivelyconnectedto said' pairs of wedges for end'wis'e movement to draw'thewedges of thep'air's'together; said elongated straight members being movable laterally out w'ardly' and radially of said cylindrical member to spread said wedges apart, split rings in said tubular'p'ortion siir rounding" said cylindrical member, said rin s having aperture'd ears thereon through which said elongated straight members extend for connecting said rings to' said elongated. straight member's, said'rings beingresilient and" inherently expansiblc to move said elongated straight members laterally outwardly and radially of said c'ylindrical'memb'er, said'tubnlar portion having longitudinal recesses therein into which" said' ears extend andare movable to provide for expansion of'said rings, said recesses preventing rotation of said rings.

References'Cited in the file of this patent 

